Category Archives: Uncategorized

Man the last part of the title is correct. It has become an obsession. However this obsession has found the granddaddy of all antenna radial documents. Ground Systems As A Factor In Antenna Efficiency by GH Brown, RF Lewis and J Epstein ( RCA Engineers) the PDF can be found here: https://www.qsl.net/hiarc/Files/George%20brown%20RCS%20radials.pdf This document wasContinue reading “Radials 5 or Just Another Obsession”

OK I have to write this down before I forget. Speaker Wire: too thick to put more than 3 in the banana clip. Tried for 4 days to get 5 or 4 to work, 3 will hold 4 won’t. Not efficient enough to use. So I posted on some Facebook groups I belong to andContinue reading “Radials 4 & Future”

What happens when I can’t sleep. First I need to get these 2 documents linked to this site. The first is the study by Rudy Stevens N6LF on Radials in QST. https://www.nonstopsystems.com/radio/pdf-ant/article-antenna-elevated-radials.pdf The second is a detailed 7 part study by Rudy from QEX magazine. https://www.nonstopsystems.com/radio/pdf-ant/antenna-article-gnd-sys-7x-qex-6lf.pdf As an ongoing part of my researches I’ve beenContinue reading “Radials 3”

Man I went off the rails in the last blog. Sorry about that this may be more winding still. It is earlier in the morning now, and hopefully I’ll make more sense. (Kinda doubt it!) On with the discussion: Portable operations require a different mindset. Things need to be easy to put up and takedownContinue reading “Radials 2”

This will be the first of many discussions on radials. They may get their own heading like antennas, because I really believe they are a separate discussion. I was thinking about the Wolf River Coils (WRC) antenna and the radials that come with it. Why 3? I think it had to do with the VentennaContinue reading “Radials 1”

I am active as a Hunter in Parks On The Air (POTA). The more I hunt the more I want to be an Activator. It is probably just a normal outcome of calling and answering CQ. So here is my equipment list, the items I am purchasing to make it happen (P) and some randomContinue reading “Bite the Bullet”

I have been hemming and hawing about writing this one. My life was good, I was happy in my ignorance of coax, specifically LMR 400, and 240, and all the factors associated with it. Then Messi & Paoloni (M&P) Coax came into my life. (Cue Angels Singing) To say I am impressed is an understatement.Continue reading “Coax”

Well I rediscovered something I think I already knew. An antenna as close to resonant as possible say an SWR of 1.23 with a reflection of 15 dB is better without a tuner than with one. To test this hypothesis I connected my Cobweb antenna direct to the IC – 718. I am working FT8Continue reading “Tuner”

Last weekend I was able to attend a Technician class and cram session. I helped by proctoring the overflow room. Many thanks to SWIARC for letting me help. While observing the class I was reminded of reflection and how it can affect the amount of power being transmitted. I have a RigExpert AA-230 Zoom, pickedContinue reading “RE-Discovery”

Happy New Year to one and all. Goals for this year: To spend more time on the radio, balancing family time. To get more active with the club, and its activities as my work schedule allows. To get over my mike fright, making many more contacts. Think that’s enough. What are your goals? Christmas wasContinue reading “Happy New Year!!!!”